Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

Dental pain and associated factors in 2 to 4-year-old children in Goiânia

Abstracts

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the prevalence of dental pain and associated factors in 2-4-year-old children in Goiânia (GO).

METHODS:

Cross-sectional study using home interviews with parents or guardians and anthropometric measures. The sample consisted of 385 children from 2 to 4 years old. The variables analyzed were: dental pain sometime in their lives, and demographic, socioeconomic and health-related factors (health condition, diet, nutritional status and behavior). Bivariate analysis and logistic regression were performed, based on a hierarchical model for risk assessment, considering the sample weights.

RESULTS:

Dental pain prevalence was 9.9% (95%CI 7.4 - 13.1). After adjustment for other variables, children whose mothers had low education level and those who regularly consumed artificial powder juice containing sugar were more likely to have dental pain (OR = 3.03 and 2.15, respectively).

CONCLUSION:

It was concluded that one in ten children had dental pain, and the prevalence was associated with low education level of the mother and the regular consumption of artificial powder juice.

Toothache; Child, preschool; Prevalence; Risk factors; Social class; Diet


OBJETIVO:

Conhecer a prevalência de dor dentária e os fatores associados em crianças de dois a quatro anos de idade em Goiânia (GO).

MÉTODOS:

Estudo transversal utilizando entrevistas domiciliares com pais ou responsáveis e medidas antropométricas. Fizeram parte da amostra 385 crianças de 2 a 4 anos. As variáveis analisadas foram: dor dentária alguma vez na vida e fatores demográficos, socioeconômicos e relacionados à saúde (condição de saúde, alimentação, estado nutricional e comportamentos). Foi realizada análise bivariada e regressão logística, com base em modelo hierárquico de determinação do agravo, sendo considerados os pesos amostrais.

RESULTADOS:

A prevalência de dor foi de 9,9% (IC95% 7,4 - 13,1). Após ajuste pelas demais variáveis, as crianças cujas mães tinham baixa escolaridade e as que consumiam regularmente suco artificial em pó contendo açúcar tiveram mais chances de ter dor (OR = 3,03 e 2,15, respectivamente).

CONCLUSÃO:

Uma em cada dez crianças apresentou dor dentária, e a prevalência foi associada à baixa escolaridade da mãe e ao consumo regular de suco artificial em pó.

Odontalgia; Pré-escolar; Prevalência; Fatores de risco; Classe social; Dieta


INTRODUCTION

Oral diseases may cause pain, suffering, and psychological embarrassment resulting in damage at individual and collective levels. Due to its social importance, the decrease in population's dental pain was included in oral health global goals for the year of 2020, with the aim of reducing the number of absent days at school, job, and work1Hobdell M, Petersen PE, Clarkson J, Johnson N. Global goals for oral health 2020. Int Dent J 2003; 53(5): 285-8..

Interest in such subject has been increasing during the last years. Epidemiological studies about dental pain have investigated not only the prevalence of the problem, but also its association with socioeconomic and demographic factors and impacts in the quality of life2Dogar F, Kruger E, Dyson K, Tennant M. Oral health of pre-school children in rural and remote Western Australia. Rural Remote Health 2011; 11(4): 1869.

Oliveira MMT, Colares V. The relationship between dental anxiety and dental pain in children aged 18 to 59 months: a study in Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil. Cad Saúde Pública 2009; 25(4): 743-50.

Moura-Leite FR, Ramos-Jorge J, Ramos-Jorge ML, Paiva SM, Vale MP, Pordeus IA. Impact of dental pain on daily living of five-year-old Brazilian preschool children: prevalence and associated factors. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent 2011; 12(6): 293-7.

Moura-Leite FR, Ramos-Jorge ML, Bonanato K, Paiva SM, Vale MP, Pordeus IA. Prevalence, intensity and impact of dental pain in 5-year-old preschool children. Oral Health Prev Dent 2008; 6(4): 295-301.

Boeira GF, Correa MB, Peres KG, Peres MA, Santos IS, Matijasevich A, et al. Caries is the main cause for dental pain in childhood: findings from a birth cohort. Caries Res 2012; 46(5): 488-95.

Barrêtto EPR, Ferreira EF, Pordeus IA. Determinant factors of toothache in 8- and 9-year-old schoolchildren, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. Braz Oral Res 2009; 23(2): 124-30.

Bastos JL, Peres MA, Peres KG, Araujo CLP, Menezes AMB. Toothache prevalence and associated factors: a life course study from birth to age 12 yr. Eur J Oral Sci 2008; 116(5): 458-66.
- 9Hack-Comunello SM, Michel-Crosato E, Biazevic MGH, Crosato E. Dor dental e condição sócio-econômica: um estudo censitário em escolares. Pesqui Bras Odontopediatria Clín Integr 2008; 8(1): 63-7.. Most studies include scholars and teenagers as the study population, with only few of them considering younger children and pre-scholars at the deciduous dentition phase.

In childhood, dental pain may be attributed to transitory oral injuries, deciduous tooth exfoliation, and permanent tooth eruption. However, caries is the clinical condition with the most consistent correlation with dental pain5Moura-Leite FR, Ramos-Jorge ML, Bonanato K, Paiva SM, Vale MP, Pordeus IA. Prevalence, intensity and impact of dental pain in 5-year-old preschool children. Oral Health Prev Dent 2008; 6(4): 295-301. , 7Barrêtto EPR, Ferreira EF, Pordeus IA. Determinant factors of toothache in 8- and 9-year-old schoolchildren, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. Braz Oral Res 2009; 23(2): 124-30.. There is evidence that dental pain is frequent among preschoolers, even in populations with historically low levels of caries experience2Dogar F, Kruger E, Dyson K, Tennant M. Oral health of pre-school children in rural and remote Western Australia. Rural Remote Health 2011; 11(4): 1869., and pain produces an impact on the quality of life of children and their families4Moura-Leite FR, Ramos-Jorge J, Ramos-Jorge ML, Paiva SM, Vale MP, Pordeus IA. Impact of dental pain on daily living of five-year-old Brazilian preschool children: prevalence and associated factors. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent 2011; 12(6): 293-7. , 5Moura-Leite FR, Ramos-Jorge ML, Bonanato K, Paiva SM, Vale MP, Pordeus IA. Prevalence, intensity and impact of dental pain in 5-year-old preschool children. Oral Health Prev Dent 2008; 6(4): 295-301..

In Brazil, studies with children younger than 5 years old have showed prevalence of 9.1% in Recife, 11.3% in Canoas, and 21% in Macapá3Oliveira MMT, Colares V. The relationship between dental anxiety and dental pain in children aged 18 to 59 months: a study in Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil. Cad Saúde Pública 2009; 25(4): 743-50. , 1010 Kramer PF, Feldens CA, Ferreira SH, Bervian J, Rodrigues PH, Peres MA. Exploring the impact of oral diseases and disorders on quality of life of preschool children. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2013; 41(4): 327-35. , 1111 Gradella CMF, Bernabé E, Bönecker M, Oliveira LB. Caries prevalence and severity, and quality of life in Brazilian 2- to 4-year-old children. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2011; 39(6): 498-504.. Discrepancies among the Brazilian regions were also seen in a study using adolescents1212 Freire MCM, Leles CR, Sardinha LMV, Paludetto J, Malta DC, Peres MAA. Dental pain and associated factors in Brazilian adolescents: the National Adolescent School-based Health Survey (PeNSE), Brazil, 2009. Cad Saúde Pública 2012; 28(Suppl): S133-S45.. Thus, it is relevant to estimate the dental pain prevalence among children younger than five years old in other municipalities and regions in the country.

Studies about factors associated with dental pain in Brazilian preschoolers showed that the prevalence is very high among groups of black-colored skin6Boeira GF, Correa MB, Peres KG, Peres MA, Santos IS, Matijasevich A, et al. Caries is the main cause for dental pain in childhood: findings from a birth cohort. Caries Res 2012; 46(5): 488-95. and of very low socioeconomic condition3Oliveira MMT, Colares V. The relationship between dental anxiety and dental pain in children aged 18 to 59 months: a study in Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil. Cad Saúde Pública 2009; 25(4): 743-50. , 6Boeira GF, Correa MB, Peres KG, Peres MA, Santos IS, Matijasevich A, et al. Caries is the main cause for dental pain in childhood: findings from a birth cohort. Caries Res 2012; 46(5): 488-95.. More frequent dental pain reports were found in older children, with lower family income3Oliveira MMT, Colares V. The relationship between dental anxiety and dental pain in children aged 18 to 59 months: a study in Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil. Cad Saúde Pública 2009; 25(4): 743-50. and whose mothers had less than four schooling years6Boeira GF, Correa MB, Peres KG, Peres MA, Santos IS, Matijasevich A, et al. Caries is the main cause for dental pain in childhood: findings from a birth cohort. Caries Res 2012; 46(5): 488-95..

Even though dental pain causes an impact on eating and is associated with caries, which has the high frequency of sugar intake as one of its etiological factors, only few studies performed with adolescents have approached the relationship between dental pain and diet1212 Freire MCM, Leles CR, Sardinha LMV, Paludetto J, Malta DC, Peres MAA. Dental pain and associated factors in Brazilian adolescents: the National Adolescent School-based Health Survey (PeNSE), Brazil, 2009. Cad Saúde Pública 2012; 28(Suppl): S133-S45.

13 Nomura LH, Bastos JLD, Peres MA. Dental pain prevalence and association with dental caries and socioeconomic status in schoolchildren, Southern Brazil, 2002. Braz Oral Res 2004; 18(2): 134-40.
- 1414 Yuen HK, Wiegand RE, Hill EG, Magruder KM, Slate EH, Salinas CF, et al. Factors associated with toothache among African American adolescents living in rural South Carolina. Soc Work Public Health 2011; 26(7): 695-707.. There is also the need for better understanding the association of pain with other health-related factors in the early years of life, such as breastfeeding, nutritional status, food consumption, and health condition. The coexistence of multiple health risk factors associated with dental pain may indicate the need for integrated approaches of oral health promotion.

In this context, the objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of dental pain and its association with demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related factors in 2 to 4-year old children in Goiânia, State of Goiás, Brazil. Results may be useful for knowing the magnitude of the problem, identifying risk and protective factors, and clarifying the existent iniquities in a Brazilian municipality. They may also contribute for public policies directed to the health of children younger than 5 years old.

METHODS

Data from the cross-sectional study "Nutritional profile of children younger than 5 years old in the city of Goiânia" were analyzed, with home basis, approved by the Ethics Research Committee (ERC) from Universidade Federal de Goiás.

STUDY POPULATION AND SAMPLING

Children aged six months to four years old were included in the main study. The sampling calculation was based on the prevalence of overweight, resulting in 829 children. Eight-hundred and thirty-two participated in the study. Sampling by clusters of permanent private homes happened in three stages: census sectors, residences, and children.

The present analysis included children aged 2 to 4 years old (n = 442). From these, only children whose mothers answered "yes" or "no" to the question about dental pain were included, and 12 whose answers were "I don't know" and 45 who did not answer to this question were excluded. The final sample of the present study was composed of 385 children. Later, the sample statistical power was calculated to verify if the number of children was sufficient to investigate the dental pain outcome based on the maternal educational level exposition factor. With a sample including 385 children, it was possible to find as statistically significant an Odds Ratio (OR) of at least 2.5, considering the outcome prevalence in the group of non-exposed children of 7%, with an 88.5% power, and 95% confidence level.

DATA COLLECTION

After the pilot study, data collection was done with ten pairs of previously qualified interviewers. Parents and/or guardians were interviewed using a structured questionnaire and anthropometric measures. Phone calls were done to 5% of the interviewed subjects with the aim of verifying the questionnaire answers. Kappa's test values varied from 0.68 to 0.95 and they showed a substantial to excellent concordance.

VARIABLES INCLUDED IN THE PRESENT STUDY

The dependent variable was obtained with a report of dental pain sometime in life (Yes/No), which has been used in most studies about the theme2Dogar F, Kruger E, Dyson K, Tennant M. Oral health of pre-school children in rural and remote Western Australia. Rural Remote Health 2011; 11(4): 1869. , 3Oliveira MMT, Colares V. The relationship between dental anxiety and dental pain in children aged 18 to 59 months: a study in Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil. Cad Saúde Pública 2009; 25(4): 743-50. , 1010 Kramer PF, Feldens CA, Ferreira SH, Bervian J, Rodrigues PH, Peres MA. Exploring the impact of oral diseases and disorders on quality of life of preschool children. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2013; 41(4): 327-35..

The demographical variables were age (in complete years) and gender. With regard to socioeconomic variables, it was used the home location in Sanitary Districts (SD) of the municipality. These were divided according to their socioeconomic characteristics: Group I (Campinas-Center SD), located more centrally and with the best indicators; Group II (North, South, and East SD), with intermediate indicators; and Group III (Southwest, West, and Northwest SD), with the worst indicators.

Other variables from this block were: family structure; birth order; daycare frequency; age of parents; educational level of parents; if mom worked in the past year; kind of residence; number of rooms used for sleeping; water supply; acceptance of Bolsa Família grant; and socioeconomic class1515 Associação Brasileira de Empresas de Pesquisa. Critério de classificação econômica Brasil. São Paulo: ABEP; 2008..

The health conditions and related behaviors were evaluated using the following variables: child's premature birth; diagnosed health problem; child eats while watching TV; and physical activity practice (at schools). In order to assess breastfeeding-related variables, concepts recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO)16 16 World Health Organization. Indicators for assessing breastfeeding practices. Geneva: WHO; 1991.and Health Ministry1717 Departamento de Atenção Básica; Secretaria de Atenção à Saúde; Ministério da Saúde. Saúde da criança: nutrição infantil: aleitamento materno e alimentação complementar. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde; 2009. (MS - Série A. Normas e Manuais Técnicos). were used. Foods containing addition of sugar were chosen for the intake analysis of aliments: soda and artificial powder juice, chocolates, bonbons, and filled cookies, where the last three ones were grouped in one variable defined as junkie food. Consumption in four days or less in a week was considered as irregular food intake, and five days or more in a week as a regular intake, according to the methodology from PeNSE 20091212 Freire MCM, Leles CR, Sardinha LMV, Paludetto J, Malta DC, Peres MAA. Dental pain and associated factors in Brazilian adolescents: the National Adolescent School-based Health Survey (PeNSE), Brazil, 2009. Cad Saúde Pública 2012; 28(Suppl): S133-S45.. The nutritional status was assessed through the body mass index (BMI) for age and age height, recommended by the WHO1818 World Health Organization. WHO child growth standards: length/height-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-lenght, weight-for-height and body mass index-for-age: methods and development. Geneva: WHO; 2006..

DATA ANALYSIS

Firstly, the dental pain prevalence was calculated. Analysis of the factors associated with outcome was performed considering a hierarchical model to determine the worsening (Figure 1)1919 Victora CG, Huttly SR, Fuchs SC, Olinto MTA. The role of conceptual frameworks in epidemiological analysis: a hierarchical approach. Int J Epidemiol 1997; 26(1): 224-7.. Variables were divided into three blocks. The demographic characteristics (Block 1) like gender and age, used for controlling the others, are in the more distal level. The socioeconomic conditions (Block 2) hypothetically influence on the health-related conditions and behaviors (Block 3), the most proximal level of the evaluated outcome.

Figure 1.
Hierarchical model proposed for the determination of dental pain in children under five years old in Goiânia (GO).

The statistical analysis was performed based on the effect of the sampling design for complex samples and sampling weights in the module Complex Samples from the statistical program Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 17.0. The OR was used as a measure of effect with 95% confidence interval, obtained in the logistic regression analysis, for identification of the variables associated with dental pain. All variables with a significance level of p < 0.20 seen in the bivariate analysis (Rao-Scott χ2 test) were included in the multiple logistic regression model. Rao-Scott is a corrected Pearson's χ2 test for an outline effect of the complex sampling used in the present study.

The multiple logistic regression analysis was done following the hierarchical model structured in the variable blocks that were previously described. In every block, it was used the stepwise forward selection procedure, where the model began from the variable with more statistical significance in the bivariate analysis and, then, adding other variables, each by each, through decreasing order of statistical significance. The new variable remained in the multiple model if it presented p < 0.05 in Wald's statistics and/or was a control variable. Variables of each block that remained statistically significant (p < 0.05) were chosen to form the adjusted regression analysis for the higher blocks, from the analysis of internal multiple regression to every block. Variables from demographic characteristics block continued as control variables for the hierarchically lower blocks, regardless the presented statistical significance, due to the evidence of its association with dental pain reported in previous studies. The adjustment quality of each stage that forms the final model was assessed following the Pseudo R Square that was obtained using Nagelkerke test. It showed that the final model is not different from the complete model and that the remaining variables contributed for explaining the dental pain outcome.

RESULTS

The total sample (n = 385) included mostly the female gender and subjects were between 2 and 3 years old (Table 1). Most parents studied for eight or more years. The majority of families was from C to E socioeconomic classes and only 17.8% received the Bolsa Família grant. Dental pain prevalence any time in life was of 9.9% (95%CI 7.4 - 13.1).

Table 1.
Frequency distribution and results of the bivariate association between dental pain and demographic and socioeconomic variables. Children from 2 to 4 years old, Goiânia (GO), Brazil, 2012.

Most children used to eat while watching television (56.8%) and did not practice any physical activity at school (93.9%). A great amount of children was already regularly consuming junk food (27.1%) and sugary drinks, like soda (31.7%) and artificial powder juice containing sugar (36.8%). It was also found a high prevalence of overweight (31.9%) (Table 2).

Table 2.
Frequency distribution and results of the bivariate association between dental pain and health-related variables. Children from 2 to 4 years old, Goiânia (GO), Brazil, 2012.

Results from the bivariate analysis of the association between dental pain and demographic and socioeconomic variables are in Table 1. There were statistically significant differences about the mother's educational level, with higher rates of dental pain in children whose mothers had less than 8 years of educational level (p = 0.016). As to health-related variables (Table 2), there was a higher prevalence of dental pain in children who regularly consumed artificial powder juice containing sugar (p = 0.015), compared to those that drank this beverage irregularly.

For the multiple logistics regression analysis, variables with significance level of p < 0.20 seen in the bivariate analysis were chosen. In the block composed of socioeconomic variables, variables included SD, mother's educational level, economic class, and Bolsa Família grant. Water supply was not included due to the low frequency of children who reported dental pain and whose residences did not have public supply (only one child). After adjustment for the variables from the same block, only mother's educational level remained associated with dental pain. In the block of health-related characteristics, the variables chosen were: eats while watching TV and drinks artificial powder juice containing sugar. After the adjustment, only the latter remained significantly.

The results from the final model of logistic regression analysis are in Table 3. Occurrence of dental pain was associated with the mother's educational level and consumption of artificial powder juice containing sugar. Adjustment by gender and age did not change the association between dental pain and artificial juice consumption and increased the significance of mother's educational level variable. Children whose mothers had lower educational level (< 8 years) had 3.03 more chances of presenting dental pain compared to those mothers with more educational level. Children who regularly drank juice had 2.15 more chances of presenting pain than those who drank it less frequently.

Table 3.
Frequency distribution and results of the logistic regression of the association between dental pain and independent variables. Children from 2 to 4 years old, Goiânia (GO), Brazil, 2012.

DISCUSSION

The association found between higher prevalence of dental pain and mothers' low educational level, even after adjustment for other variables, confirms the influence of social inequality in the Brazilian population's oral health. Thus, oral health actions need to be integrated with other sectors like education and social assistance in order to combat health iniquities. The great majority of studies published about dental pain in childhood and adolescence in Brazil shows the effect of one or more socioeconomic factors4Moura-Leite FR, Ramos-Jorge J, Ramos-Jorge ML, Paiva SM, Vale MP, Pordeus IA. Impact of dental pain on daily living of five-year-old Brazilian preschool children: prevalence and associated factors. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent 2011; 12(6): 293-7. , 6Boeira GF, Correa MB, Peres KG, Peres MA, Santos IS, Matijasevich A, et al. Caries is the main cause for dental pain in childhood: findings from a birth cohort. Caries Res 2012; 46(5): 488-95.

Barrêtto EPR, Ferreira EF, Pordeus IA. Determinant factors of toothache in 8- and 9-year-old schoolchildren, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. Braz Oral Res 2009; 23(2): 124-30.

Bastos JL, Peres MA, Peres KG, Araujo CLP, Menezes AMB. Toothache prevalence and associated factors: a life course study from birth to age 12 yr. Eur J Oral Sci 2008; 116(5): 458-66.
- 9Hack-Comunello SM, Michel-Crosato E, Biazevic MGH, Crosato E. Dor dental e condição sócio-econômica: um estudo censitário em escolares. Pesqui Bras Odontopediatria Clín Integr 2008; 8(1): 63-7. , 1212 Freire MCM, Leles CR, Sardinha LMV, Paludetto J, Malta DC, Peres MAA. Dental pain and associated factors in Brazilian adolescents: the National Adolescent School-based Health Survey (PeNSE), Brazil, 2009. Cad Saúde Pública 2012; 28(Suppl): S133-S45. , 1313 Nomura LH, Bastos JLD, Peres MA. Dental pain prevalence and association with dental caries and socioeconomic status in schoolchildren, Southern Brazil, 2002. Braz Oral Res 2004; 18(2): 134-40..

The relation between economic deprivation and pain was also found with regard to the orofacial pain2020 Aggarwal VR, Macfarlane TV, Macfarlane G. Why is pain more common amongst people living in areas of low socio-economic status? A population-based cross-sectional study. Br Dent J 2003; 194(7): 383-387.. An explanation for this finding may be more exposure of the less privileged people to risk factors for oral health problems. Another hypothesis is that less economically privileged subjects would be more exposed to stressful events, and they may present a lower threshold to pain2121 Bastos JLD, Gigante DP, Peres KG, Nedel FB. Determinação social da odontalgia em estudos epidemiológicos: revisão teórica e proposta de um modelo conceitual. Ciênc Saúde Coletiva 2007; 12(6): 1611-21..

The association found between dental pain and regular consumption of industrialized juice with sugar constitutes the first evidence of this association, which may happen due to the cariogenic potential of this food component, since there is evidence of the relation between dental pain and caries. Therefore, the higher intake frequency of this kind of juice may be associated with more prevalence of caries, which constitutes an important factor for pain. Another possible explanation may be associated with the socioeconomic condition, since subjects who consume more this kind of food are those with less economic power, who does not have any condition of buying healthier products, like pulp juice2222 Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Pesquisa de orçamentos familiares 2008-2009. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2010.. However, in the present study, the association between industrialized juice intake and dental pain did not depend on the socioeconomic condition, it was assessed through the mother's educational level.

Dental caries, main clinical condition related to dental pain, is the most associated disease in the medical literature with the intake of industrialized drinks, like soda, juice, and energizers, which have a high sugar concentration. Another characteristic is its acidity, which favors the dissolution of teeth mineral salts and the formation of an acid plaque, producing dental erosion in different degrees according to the kind of drink2323 Amato D, Maravilha A, Contreas FG, Paniagua R. Los refrescos y la salud. Rev Investig Clin 1997; 49: 387-95. , 2424 Tahmassebi JF, Duggal MS, Malik-Kotru G, Curzon ME. Soft drinks and dental health: a review of the current literature. J Dent 2006; 34(1): 2-11..

Unlike the findings of Freire et al.1212 Freire MCM, Leles CR, Sardinha LMV, Paludetto J, Malta DC, Peres MAA. Dental pain and associated factors in Brazilian adolescents: the National Adolescent School-based Health Survey (PeNSE), Brazil, 2009. Cad Saúde Pública 2012; 28(Suppl): S133-S45., there was no association between pain and regular intake of sodas and junkie food. This finding may have happened due to the higher consumption of sodas among the population groups with higher income in Brazil2222 Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Pesquisa de orçamentos familiares 2008-2009. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2010., which is in disagreement with the relation between dental pain and economic deprivation, and also with what was considered in the group of junkie food in both studies.

Dental pain prevalence in Goiânia, Brazil, was very close to that found in studies about children on the same age range and with a reminiscent period: 9.1% in Recife and 11.3% in Canoas3Oliveira MMT, Colares V. The relationship between dental anxiety and dental pain in children aged 18 to 59 months: a study in Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil. Cad Saúde Pública 2009; 25(4): 743-50. , 1111 Gradella CMF, Bernabé E, Bönecker M, Oliveira LB. Caries prevalence and severity, and quality of life in Brazilian 2- to 4-year-old children. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2011; 39(6): 498-504.. Higher prevalence in this age group was seen in the city of Macapá (21%)1010 Kramer PF, Feldens CA, Ferreira SH, Bervian J, Rodrigues PH, Peres MA. Exploring the impact of oral diseases and disorders on quality of life of preschool children. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2013; 41(4): 327-35.. Absence of a significant association between gender and dental pain, seen in the present study, was also reported in previous studies4Moura-Leite FR, Ramos-Jorge J, Ramos-Jorge ML, Paiva SM, Vale MP, Pordeus IA. Impact of dental pain on daily living of five-year-old Brazilian preschool children: prevalence and associated factors. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent 2011; 12(6): 293-7. , 6Boeira GF, Correa MB, Peres KG, Peres MA, Santos IS, Matijasevich A, et al. Caries is the main cause for dental pain in childhood: findings from a birth cohort. Caries Res 2012; 46(5): 488-95. , 1313 Nomura LH, Bastos JLD, Peres MA. Dental pain prevalence and association with dental caries and socioeconomic status in schoolchildren, Southern Brazil, 2002. Braz Oral Res 2004; 18(2): 134-40. , 1414 Yuen HK, Wiegand RE, Hill EG, Magruder KM, Slate EH, Salinas CF, et al. Factors associated with toothache among African American adolescents living in rural South Carolina. Soc Work Public Health 2011; 26(7): 695-707. , 2525 Goes PS, Watt R, Hardy RG, Sheiham A. The prevalence and severity of dental pain in 14-15 year old Brazilian schoolchildren. Community Dent Health 2007; 24(4): 217-24..

Because this study is part of another larger project, it has implications that should be discussed. Since the instrument for data collection was extensive, it was used only one question about dental pain sometime in life, without assessing more recent periods of pain and its severity. Parents or guardians answered such question. This is the most commonly used method, because children in this age range may sub-report dental pain as a consequence of memory bias. Therefore, we must consider that parents or guardian's reports may not be accurate. Pain may have been a result of, besides dental caries, permanent teeth eruption and deciduous exfoliation. However, clinical variables and oral health behaviors that could be related to dental pain were not included in the study that created the used database.

This present investigation was the first study about dental pain in children younger than 5 years old, with a population basis of domiciliary approach. This is an important fact since, in Brazil, few children in this age range go to kindergarten. Thus, studies with school basis are not representations of this population. Another positive point was the use of sample weights in the sampling process, which makes it a more representative sample of the population.

CONCLUSION

We have concluded that one in every ten children had dental pain in the studied population, and the prevalence was associated with the mother's low educational level and with the intake of artificial powder juice containing sugar. Therefore, the implementation of strategies to improve life conditions and to promote a healthy nutrition has the potential of decreasing oral health problems and the impact on people's quality of life from the dental pain. In addition, amongst the approach of common risk factors, these measures would also cause impacts on the prevalence of other non-communicable chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity, which are presenting increasing rates among the population, especially in infants.

REFERENCES

  • 1
    Hobdell M, Petersen PE, Clarkson J, Johnson N. Global goals for oral health 2020. Int Dent J 2003; 53(5): 285-8.
  • 2
    Dogar F, Kruger E, Dyson K, Tennant M. Oral health of pre-school children in rural and remote Western Australia. Rural Remote Health 2011; 11(4): 1869.
  • 3
    Oliveira MMT, Colares V. The relationship between dental anxiety and dental pain in children aged 18 to 59 months: a study in Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil. Cad Saúde Pública 2009; 25(4): 743-50.
  • 4
    Moura-Leite FR, Ramos-Jorge J, Ramos-Jorge ML, Paiva SM, Vale MP, Pordeus IA. Impact of dental pain on daily living of five-year-old Brazilian preschool children: prevalence and associated factors. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent 2011; 12(6): 293-7.
  • 5
    Moura-Leite FR, Ramos-Jorge ML, Bonanato K, Paiva SM, Vale MP, Pordeus IA. Prevalence, intensity and impact of dental pain in 5-year-old preschool children. Oral Health Prev Dent 2008; 6(4): 295-301.
  • 6
    Boeira GF, Correa MB, Peres KG, Peres MA, Santos IS, Matijasevich A, et al. Caries is the main cause for dental pain in childhood: findings from a birth cohort. Caries Res 2012; 46(5): 488-95.
  • 7
    Barrêtto EPR, Ferreira EF, Pordeus IA. Determinant factors of toothache in 8- and 9-year-old schoolchildren, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. Braz Oral Res 2009; 23(2): 124-30.
  • 8
    Bastos JL, Peres MA, Peres KG, Araujo CLP, Menezes AMB. Toothache prevalence and associated factors: a life course study from birth to age 12 yr. Eur J Oral Sci 2008; 116(5): 458-66.
  • 9
    Hack-Comunello SM, Michel-Crosato E, Biazevic MGH, Crosato E. Dor dental e condição sócio-econômica: um estudo censitário em escolares. Pesqui Bras Odontopediatria Clín Integr 2008; 8(1): 63-7.
  • 10
    Kramer PF, Feldens CA, Ferreira SH, Bervian J, Rodrigues PH, Peres MA. Exploring the impact of oral diseases and disorders on quality of life of preschool children. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2013; 41(4): 327-35.
  • 11
    Gradella CMF, Bernabé E, Bönecker M, Oliveira LB. Caries prevalence and severity, and quality of life in Brazilian 2- to 4-year-old children. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2011; 39(6): 498-504.
  • 12
    Freire MCM, Leles CR, Sardinha LMV, Paludetto J, Malta DC, Peres MAA. Dental pain and associated factors in Brazilian adolescents: the National Adolescent School-based Health Survey (PeNSE), Brazil, 2009. Cad Saúde Pública 2012; 28(Suppl): S133-S45.
  • 13
    Nomura LH, Bastos JLD, Peres MA. Dental pain prevalence and association with dental caries and socioeconomic status in schoolchildren, Southern Brazil, 2002. Braz Oral Res 2004; 18(2): 134-40.
  • 14
    Yuen HK, Wiegand RE, Hill EG, Magruder KM, Slate EH, Salinas CF, et al. Factors associated with toothache among African American adolescents living in rural South Carolina. Soc Work Public Health 2011; 26(7): 695-707.
  • 15
    Associação Brasileira de Empresas de Pesquisa. Critério de classificação econômica Brasil. São Paulo: ABEP; 2008.
  • 16
    World Health Organization. Indicators for assessing breastfeeding practices. Geneva: WHO; 1991.
  • 17
    Departamento de Atenção Básica; Secretaria de Atenção à Saúde; Ministério da Saúde. Saúde da criança: nutrição infantil: aleitamento materno e alimentação complementar. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde; 2009. (MS - Série A. Normas e Manuais Técnicos).
  • 18
    World Health Organization. WHO child growth standards: length/height-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-lenght, weight-for-height and body mass index-for-age: methods and development. Geneva: WHO; 2006.
  • 19
    Victora CG, Huttly SR, Fuchs SC, Olinto MTA. The role of conceptual frameworks in epidemiological analysis: a hierarchical approach. Int J Epidemiol 1997; 26(1): 224-7.
  • 20
    Aggarwal VR, Macfarlane TV, Macfarlane G. Why is pain more common amongst people living in areas of low socio-economic status? A population-based cross-sectional study. Br Dent J 2003; 194(7): 383-387.
  • 21
    Bastos JLD, Gigante DP, Peres KG, Nedel FB. Determinação social da odontalgia em estudos epidemiológicos: revisão teórica e proposta de um modelo conceitual. Ciênc Saúde Coletiva 2007; 12(6): 1611-21.
  • 22
    Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Pesquisa de orçamentos familiares 2008-2009. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE; 2010.
  • 23
    Amato D, Maravilha A, Contreas FG, Paniagua R. Los refrescos y la salud. Rev Investig Clin 1997; 49: 387-95.
  • 24
    Tahmassebi JF, Duggal MS, Malik-Kotru G, Curzon ME. Soft drinks and dental health: a review of the current literature. J Dent 2006; 34(1): 2-11.
  • 25
    Goes PS, Watt R, Hardy RG, Sheiham A. The prevalence and severity of dental pain in 14-15 year old Brazilian schoolchildren. Community Dent Health 2007; 24(4): 217-24.
  • Financial support: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Goiás (FAPEG), public notice number 09/2010.

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    Sept 2015

History

  • Received
    29 May 2014
  • Reviewed
    28 Nov 2014
  • Accepted
    08 Dec 2014
Associação Brasileira de Saúde Coletiva Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 715 - 2º andar - sl. 3 - Cerqueira César, 01246-904 São Paulo SP Brasil , Tel./FAX: +55 11 3085-5411 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: revbrepi@usp.br